Bolivia coup attempt: Rebellious troops pulling back from capital as leader of bid arrested [Video]

LA PAZ, Bolivia — Armored vehicles rammed into the doors of Bolivia’s government palace Wednesday in an apparent coup attempt, but President Luis Arce vowed to stand firm and named a new army commander who ordered troops to stand down.

The soldiers pulled back along with a line of military vehicles as hundreds of Arce’s supporters rushed to the square outside the palace, waving Bolivian flags and cheering.

Arce, surrounded by ministers, waved at the throngs of supporters who sung the national anthem. “Thank you to the Bolivian people,” he said. “Let democracy live on.”

Hours later, the Bolivian general who appeared to be behind the rebellion, Juan José Zúñiga, was arrested after the attorney general opened an investigation against him.

Wednesday’s rebellion followed months of tensions, with economic hardship and protests growing ever stronger as two political titans – Arce and his one-time ally, leftist former President Evo Morales – battle for control …